It's a Boy!

Walter Daniel Stinehelfer was born this morning at 10:36am weighing in at 7 lb 6 oz and just shy of 21 inches long. He looks great! Currently sleeping. Mom is good - pictures below!

Baby Three - What will you be?

As many of you know we like to beat ourselves up and not know the gender of our kids until they are born. Same kind of scenario for names - right now we have Eleanor and Walter as front runners, but no promises.
It is funny, but Henry and Claudia both want a girl baby and are pretty firm about it.
The other night Henry said I really hope the baby is a girl and I said that even if it is a boy we will still love him. Henry said - I really want it to be a girl. No concessions there - I tried.
Then this morning I asked Claudia what the baby should be named and she said Eleanor. I said if it is a boy it will be Walter. Walter, she said, no, it will be Eleanor.
We'll see how far this whole "mother's instinct" thing works out for me.

A kid by any other name

Henry talks about wanting to be a grown-up more than I would expect at the ripe old age of four. He sometimes says how he wishes he weren't a kid which is sad to me, but I know I had the same thoughts. Anyway, he and I were riding back from school the other day and had this conversation.
H: Henry and Claudia are not grown-up names. They are kids' names.
R: They are kid names now when you are kids and they will be your grown-up names when you are grown-ups.
H: Can I change my name when I'm a grown-up.
R: Yes - you can. What would you change it to?
H: (thinking) Josh.
R: Wow - like your uncle.
H: Yes.
R: Is that a grown-up name?
H: Yes.
R: What should Claudia's name be?
H:(more thinking) Rachel

Counting Down

Just 25 days until the baby's due date. All my doctors visits have gone well and the baby has assumed the correct head down position. Now ... it is like watching water boil. Once there is news it will definitely be posted here and probably facebook too! Wish us luck! And for those sports fans out there - yes, soon we will be playing zone.